Manholes get glowing anime makeover in Japan's Tokorozawa

An illuminated manhole cover with designs of popular animation character from 'The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya', on the street in Tokorozawa, near Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

A set of manhole covers in Japan's Tokorozawa city, north of Tokyo, has been decorated with anime characters that glow in the dark, to the delight of locals and city officials.

The city installed the covers, which include designs from animation series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam, this month to advertise a new entertainment complex focusing on Japanese popular culture that is scheduled to open in November.

"My commute back home is enjoyable," said 22-year-old resident Kotaro Kodaira. "I can look at them on the ground so the (walking) time seems shorter than before."

Japan's sewerage industry has found a way to clean up its dirty and smelly image: elaborately designed and colourful manhole covers with 12,000 local varieties nationwide - including, of course, a Hello Kitty design. Photo: AFP

The 27 designs are illuminated by solar-powered LED lights, according to the city's Waterworks and Sewerage department.

City officials hope that the manholes, which are lit up from 5pm to 2am, will help to prevent crime during the night.

"I think they are unique and nice. I hope a lot of people will visit to check it out," said Sumie Namiki, a 46-year-old from Tokyo working in Tokorozawa. - Reuters

In this picture taken on November 21,2017 a worker installs a new manhole, with a design bearing Japanese charachter "Hello Kitty" at Tama Chuo park in Tama city, Tokyo prefecture.